LUMA Arles, Parc des Ateliers — Attraction in Arles

A few visit tips: Book ahead. Apparently you can just walk in if they have space, but it is best to book online.

You can go if you don’t speak English! Absolutely all the curatorial signs and text are in both French and English! Close to unique for this country.

The buildings and grounds (Parc des Ateliers) are more interesting than their contents! With a few notable exceptions, the artworks and installations failed to inspire, but the main building itself presents an unending series of wonderful moments. The grounds, with their re-imagined old buildings, are great to stroll about on a good day (but would be dismal in the rain). So do allow time (hours) to wander about all the floors that are open, plus the grounds.

Don’t forget there are several floors of displays underground in the main tower.

The buildings and grounds are not well explained or signposted. Don’t be afraid to ask staff, who are unfailingly polite, nice and helpful. In particular, ask what is closed.

Do ask for a map. It helps a lot, but we were not given one.

Avoid the eatery on the ground floor (The Drum) unless you like tiny, over-priced, incredibly pretentious, dishes. And slow service. And very little choice (they had run out of one of the three desserts right at the beginning of lunchtime). On the plus side, my wife insists that I mention the extraordinary low table at which you will eat. The bar in one of the outside buildings serves a slice of cake for half the price of a slice in The Drum, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby.

There is a multi-storey car park (Parking du Centre) a few hundred metres...

As a mere traveller, I arrived at LUMA Arles with an open mind and modest expectations. Yet, as an entrepreneur immersed in the realms of information technology, I found myself utterly disarmed by the depth of contemplation this remarkable institution provokes., Wandering through its visionary halls—part sanctuary, part laboratory, I was struck not merely by its architectural audacity, but by the quiet urgency that pervades its mission. In an age increasingly defined by artificial intelligence and the looming horizon of quantum computing, one cannot help but feel an existential tremor: What becomes of culture? Of human insight? Of education for our children—not merely what they shall know, but how they shall think, and more importantly, how they shall feel?

LUMA Arles does not presume to offer facile answers. Instead, it proposes a space for inquiry - profound, at times disconcerting, and certainly necessary. One leaves not with certainty, but with sharper questions and, perhaps, a renewed reverence for the human spirit amidst accelerating automation.

An indispensable visit for any thinker concerned with the interplay of technology, art,...

We arrived in Arles for a 2 night stay in order to look at the Roman architecture and the Van Gogh foundation, but then we saw what looked like a Frank Gehry building in the distance. And it actually was a Gehry building. We headed towards it just to have a look, but were then absorbed into a completely different world. The entry was actually free of charge, as were all the art displays. The only charge was for a group tour, which we didn't do. If you're interested in Gehry, you really must get inside this building. You will never stop being surprised. The views from the top floor gallery are fabulous. The staff were so incredibly helpful, all fluent in English. The site is also full of properly restored buildings and beautiful botanicals. It is more of a lesson in living than a construction project. And we had a lovely lunch at the Terrasse des Forges on the site, which also includes other places to eat and drink. Arles is definitely worth visiting, but this 21st century marvel is equal to the more...